Wednesday, May 14, 2025

Tom Campbell 1971

 


Tom Campbell's back with some 1971 fun.

Hear Tom every day at 2pm Eastern 11a Pacific at www.mybestsounds.com



Roland Bynum 1973

 


Here's Roland, with something a little bit different for the United States Air Force.



Tuesday, May 13, 2025

Jim Ameche 1965




 Jim Ameche continues his review of the most beautiful music from the world's greatest orchestras with the Jim Ameche show.

There's a majesty to it that we heard from Pete Smith, John Doremus and Jim Ameche.

It's time to relax




Jim Pewter 1967

 


We never had Router issues when they played "Let's Go".  I've never heard anyone else that could program a show as well as Jim Pewter.  Play it loud.

Hear Jim every day at 6pm Central




Don Tracy 1983

  


Don Tracy with some 1983 fun.  Party starts NOW!




Friday, May 9, 2025

Chris Noel 1967

 


Hard to think of such a thing as a personality that left such an impact after being off the air for such a long time.  Chris stopped doing the show in the early 70s and still has so many fans that remember like it was yesterday.  



Joe Ferguson 1983

  


Joe Ferguson shows how it's done on a Monday in 1983.  Thanks Joe!!



Monday, May 5, 2025

Jim Ameche 1965

 


From Jack Armstrong to being the first to succeed with a syndicated DJ show, the voice of the Longines Symphonette, KMPC, WNEW.  It was quite a career.  Jim played beautiful music for us.



Just Jazz 1949

 


Gene Norman was one of the first AFRS jocks, in the 40s and 50s he was a big jazz promoter and record company owner and always had some time for us.  This is magic a 1949 performance with Louis Armstrong and the all-stars.



Gene Price 1980

  


Dolly sure loves the Gene Price show!  Time for some inspired silliness from Gene



Wednesday, April 30, 2025

Chiquita 1955

In 1945, the Armed Forces Radio Service initiated direct programming for its Hispanic audience with the Chiquita program, hosted by Chiquita Juarez. Ms. Juarez is believed to have undertaken a few minor film roles and appeared on Ripley's Believe It Or Not. Additionally, she was featured in a Father's Day episode of Duffy's Tavern as one of Archie the Bartender's potential romantic interests.

Ten years later, she was still doing the show.



Charlie Tuna 1989

 

Charlie at KHJ


The most consistent personality in radio was Charlie Tuna. He did the same meticulous program in 1970 that he did in 1995. Normally that would be a bad thing, not with Charlie Tuna.


He was heard around the world daily on the Armed Forces Radio Network for a 25 year – 6000 show run from 1971 to 1996, as well as on numerous nationally syndicated radio shows, since the early 70’s. He’s now heard in syndication around the world.

Charlie has his own really great website over at charlietuna.com If you haven't been there yet you should!


Thursday, April 24, 2025

Jimmy Wakely 1971

 


I think we can say cowboy music..  Jimmy, in WWII was one of the last cowboy crooners and was a success in recordings, movies, radio and television.  We lost Jimmy to heart failure in 1982.




Wolfman Jack 1978

  


Wolfman Jack rocks up a storm.  He really could sell anything...



Wednesday, April 23, 2025

Roger Carroll 1981

 


Roger Carroll and Los Angeles radio were the same thing. From 1948-58 at KABC and 1959-79 at Gene Autry's KMPC.

"KMPC was one of the most successful radio stations in the country, and had the lineup -- the most envied talent in the radio business," said Roger Carroll, who played records on KMPC. The key to their success, he said, was a rapport with the audience. "Everybody who listened to the station thought we were their friends."

Roger brought that sound to McCadden Av. and AFTRS. Part of the reason he related so well was that he was one of the few network personalities that were a veteran.

"I served two years active duty 1953-55 then 26 years doing my AFRTS show every Tuesday for five hours....my William Morris agents knew and told clients who wanted me to do their voice overs he is not available Tues 8a-1p doing his AFTRS shows many client who served in the military we will wait for him..."

Roger said it was very special "when parents of our guys in Viet Nam and around the world would call me at KMPC or write a letter, telling me their son wanted to thank me for doing the show that they hear on AFVN, FEN, AFN and all around the world."

Mr. Carroll's company was responsible for the recruiting shows done by Gene Price, Roland Bynum and himself heard every Sunday morning on hundreds of radio stations in the 70s and 80s


The theme was an edit of one of the KMPC jingles . Harry Zimmerman Orchestra

Roger Carroll 1981

More Roger Carroll

Monday, April 21, 2025

Mary Turner 1994

  


Mary lived large, incredible career and love her memories of Ft McCadden.
Let's rock!

Mary Turner 1994

More Mary Turner


Vance Graham 1974

   



We lost Vance Graham in 1984, his ashes were spread over the Pacific.
(a more complete version of the above is at http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GRid=49068615  )

But now, from 1973, here's Victor and Latino!


Herman Griffith 1966

     

Herman with Jim Pewter and Roger Carroll


It's easy to see Herman Griffith as the voice of a community in 1966. There's a lot to his presentation that others refined and copied. Herman talks about Savings Bonds, with an interest rate very similar to today... Let's take a listen.

Herman Griffith 1966

More Herman Griffith

Wednesday, April 16, 2025

This is the story 1947

 


A few years ago I picked up a lot of these and am finally getting to the transfers.  Network did a great job explaining issues.  This time a dramatization about how hunger led to Mussolini.  



Tuesday, April 15, 2025

Andy Mansfield 1963

  


Here's part 3 of America's Popular Music, Andy Mansfield continues his tribute to Glenn Miller.



Tom Campbell 1978

    


After his service in the United States Air Force, Campbell landed his first radio gig at KEEL in Shreveport, Louisiana, thanks to Al Hart, who would later become a renowned newscaster and radio personality in San Francisco.

Campbell's career took him to Minneapolis, Minnesota at WDGY, and to WONE in Dayton, Ohio, before he settled at KYA 1260 AM in San Francisco in 1967. He was famously generous, often lending his personal phonograph, record collection, and even his car to listeners, with the understanding that they would return them, which they invariably did.

His home and car phone numbers (indeed, he had one of the rare car phones in 1967) were listed publicly in the white and yellow pages across the Bay Area, and he welcomed calls from listeners even at his residence.

Tom Campbell hosted two programs for us: "Tom Campbell Stateside" and the more album-focused "Playback." Tom generously shared a few boxes of these from his garage. I'm deeply appreciative. Now, it's time for "Playback."



Roland Bynum 1981

 


Roland's brought the party!

Let's revisit 1981 with some Soulin' with Roland!


BIll Stewart 1969

  


From 1969 here's Bill with guest Mort Garson, the writer of "Our Day Will Come", Mort did neat things with the early synthesizers.

Monday, April 14, 2025

Jim Pewter 1970

  

Jim Pewter in a 1967 promo picture at AFRTS 
(picture courtesy Jim Pewter)

Jim spent 30 years at AFRTS from 1966 through 1996, every show a painless education of rock.

Guenther recorded a bunch of these from AFN and it's some great listening.  Thank you Guenther and Jim!



Don Tracy 1983

  

East coast Don Tracy, way back when...

Let's get the party started with some Don Tracy fun!


Chris Noel 1967

 


It was a Wednesday, early in 1967.  Chris Noel was ready for your Date With Chris.



Sunday, April 13, 2025

SEN Pledge Drive 1969 Joe Ferguson

 


 


Joe Ferguson sent this over a long time ago.  Joe had a history with us.  AFN, SEN (later changed to SEB and Losa Angeles, Portland and I'm sure more.


But, save those dollars!  The SEN Pledge Drive is coming up!


SEN Pledge Drive 1969

More Joe Ferguson

John Doremus 1967

  




Music for the dinner hour from John Doremus.  After the run of the show John did many spots and short form shows that ran for years.


Gene Price 1975

  


Gene Price is back.  Time to board "The Country Express"



Friday, April 11, 2025

Ira Cook 1967

  



Time for some 1967 fun with KMPC vet Ira Cook.

Hear Ira every morning at 10am Central on www.mybestsounds.com

Ira Cook 1967

More Ira Cook